Synchronous rectified switch with auto fault clearing

Abstract

A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system and method are disclosed. In the system and method, a high side switch is operable to be coupled to an electrical bus, and a low side switch is coupled to a common ground. In addition, a first fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault. Furthermore, a second fuse is coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault.

1. A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system comprising:
 a high side switch operable to be coupled to an electrical bus; 
 a low side switch coupled to a common ground; 
 a first fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault; 
 a second fuse coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault; and 
 a bypass rectifier to be coupled to the current source, and coupled to the second fuse and the high side switch, wherein the second fuse opens in response to the second fault in the bypass rectifier. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuse opens in response to the first fault in the high side switch. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuse opens in response to the first fault in the low side switch. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fuse opens in response to the second fault in the current source. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the current source comprises at least one solar panel. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the electrical bus to be coupled to the low side switch, wherein the electrical bus comprises one of a spacecraft power bus, a satellite power bus, a ship electrical bus, an automobile electrical bus, and a power grid electrical bus. 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third fuse coupled in series to an output capacitor and the common ground, and operable to open in response to a third fault in the output capacitor. 
 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the third fuse comprises a series redundant capacitor. 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the high side switch reduces power dissipation. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the current source remains coupled to the electrical bus in response to at least one of: the first fault and the second fault. 
     
     
       11. An automatic fault tolerant synchronous rectified regulation method, the method comprising:
 synchronously rectifying a current from a current source into a current for an electrical bus using a high side switch and a low side switch coupled to a common ground; 
 providing a first fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch; and 
 providing a second fuse coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse; and 
 providing a bypass rectifier operable to be coupled to the current source, and coupled to the second fuse and the high side switch; and 
 opening the second fuse in response to a fault in the bypass rectifier. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 opening the first fuse in response to a fault in the high side switch; and 
 opening the first fuse in response to a fault in the low side switch. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising opening the second fuse in response to a fault in the current source. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing an output capacitor operable to be coupled to the electrical bus; 
 providing a third fuse coupled in series to the output capacitor and the common ground; and 
 opening the third fuse in response to a fault in the output capacitor. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the current source remains coupled to the electrical bus in response to the fault in the bypass rectifier. 
     
     
       16. A method for fault tolerant synchronous rectification of a regulator system, the method comprising:
 synchronously rectifying a current from a current source into a current for an electrical bus using a high side switch coupled to the electrical bus, a bypass rectifier coupled to the current source and the high side switch, and a low side switch coupled to a common ground; 
 opening a first fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, if a fault occurs in the high side switch; 
 opening the first fuse, if a fault occurs in the low side switch; 
 opening a second fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, if a fault occurs in the current source; and 
 opening the second fuse, if a fault occurs in the bypass rectifier. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising opening a third fuse coupled to an output capacitor and the common ground, if a fault occurs in the output capacitor. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the current source comprises at least one solar panel. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the electrical bus comprises one of a spacecraft power bus, a satellite power bus, a ship electrical bus, an automobile electrical bus, and a power grid electrical bus. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising reducing power dissipation by using the high side switch, wherein the high side switch comprises a FET. 
     
     
       21. A fault tolerant synchronous rectifier regulator system comprising:
 a high side switch operable to be coupled to an electrical bus; 
 a low side switch coupled to a common ground; 
 a first fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch, and operable to open in response to a first fault; 
 a second fuse coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse, and operable to be coupled to a current source and to open in response to a second fault; and 
 a third fuse coupled in series to an output capacitor and the common ground, and operable to open in response to a third fault in the output capacitor. 
 
     
     
       22. An automatic fault tolerant synchronous rectified regulation method, the method comprising:
 synchronously rectifying a current from a current source into a current for an electrical bus using a high side switch and a low side switch coupled to a common ground; 
 providing a first fuse coupled to the high side switch and the low side switch; 
 providing a second fuse coupled to the high side switch and the first fuse; 
 providing an output capacitor operable to be coupled to the electrical bus; 
 providing a third fuse coupled in series to the output capacitor and the common ground; and 
 opening the third fuse in response to a fault in the output capacitor.